Tapped In

The Parks Department announced last week that the restoration of the John Merven Carrère Memorial Stairs at Riverside Park is finally complete. This architectural memorial, located at West 99th Street and Riverside Drive, received renovation funding from both Mayor Michael Bloomberg, amounting to $375,000, and Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer, amounting to $300,000.

Park officials, as well as Borough President Stinger, were extremely happy with the outcome. NYC Parks Commissioner Veronica White expressed her gratitude to Bloomberg and Stringer and noted, "Riverside Park, a New York City scenic landmark, is a recreational oasis of green along the Hudson River waterfront, and we are pleased that New Yorkers can once again access it at the newly restored Carrère Memorial Stairs."

Borough President Stringer was overjoyed to take part in this monumental restoration. "Riverside Park is the natural sanctuary of the West Side-a place to read, run, walk dogs, and spend time with friends and family," Stringer said. "With the restoration of this distinguished entryway, the park's millions of visitors will enjoy safe and easy access to its lawns, courts, and scenic waterfronts." Riverside Park Conservancy President John Herrold shared in these sentiments, exclaiming, "We have been looking forward to their restoration for a long time. It was worth the wait-they're beautiful!" Parks Landscape Architect Margaret Bracken designed the beautiful restorations, including a large elevated overlook terrace and bluestone steps.

One might be inclined to ask, who is John Merven Carrère, and why are these steps named after him? John Carrère was a well-respected architect who designed various New York landmarks, including the main building of the New York Public Library and the Frick mansion, with his firm partner Thomas Hastings. Hastings designed the memorial in Carrère's name in 1919 after his tragic death in an automobile accident in 1911. Hastings' drawings for the monument created in 1916 make up a large part of the renovation you see today.

Crosstown Bus Capers

Upper West Side residents and commuters should be advised that, in the past week, there has been a string of wallet thefts on the crosstown buses during rush hour from the East Side to the West Side, according to the 19th Precinct.

Near 2nd Avenue and East 86th Street, a 74-year-old Upper West side resident was riding the M-86 crosstown bus at 9:30 in the morning. The victim had her wallet when she boarded, but when she reached her destination, noticed that it was missing, with debit and credit cards as well as $125 in cash inside. Her bank told her that her debit and credit cards had been used, and she canceled them.

Just two days earlier, a 27-year-old woman was riding the crosstown bus at 4:45 p.m. When she got off the bus at East End Ave and East 86th Street, the victim said, she left her wallet on the bus. Her credit cards were used, and she promptly canceled them.

No arrests have been made in either case. Commuters should be aware of their surroundings on the bus, and keep an eye on wallets and other personal belongings.